Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



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m BABRI v PNEUMATIC DESPATOH APPARATUS.

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N0. 68|,0|4. Patented Aug. 20, I90l. M. BABRI.

PNEUMATIC DESPATGH APPARATUS.

(Ayplicstion filed Kay 9, 1901.) (No Model.)

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Nb. sa|,0|4. Patented Aug. 20, I90l. M. BARR].

PNEUMATIC DESPATBH APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 9, 1901.)

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1 A 1 UNITED STATES ATENT To all whom it may concern.-

MARTIN BARRI, OF LOVELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LAMSCN CON- SOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

PN EU MATlC-DESPATCH APPARATUS.

ICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 681,014, dated August 20, 1901.

Application filed May 9, 1901. strain... 59,435. (No model.) 1

Be it known that I, MARTIN B RRI, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-De spatch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic-despatch apparatus,and especially to a pressure system wherein the carriers are driven from end to end of the same tube in either direction by air-pressure behind the carriers, and is an improvement on the apparatus shown, described, and claimed in my appligation filed August 25, 1900, Serial No. 28,00

The object of my invention is to provide mechanism for cutting off the air-pressure upon the discharge of a carrier from the opposite end of the line from which sent, so that the pressure is used only when the carriers are in transit. This object is accomplished by mechanism so timed in operation that upon the carrier being discharged the air-pressure is cut off.

My invention consists of certain novelfeatures hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

. site end of the transmission-tube.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a construction embodying my invenmoved and with the parts in their normal positions.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the air controlling mechanism with the cover removed and showing the position of the parts when a carrier has reached the opposite end of the line and the air-pressu re is about to be cut off. Fig. 7 is a side view, partly in section, showing 0 rtain operating mechanism for ad mitting airfpressure to drive the carrier from end to end of the tube. Fig.

8 is a detail sectional view of the cylinder air-pressure is admitted to the transmissiontube. Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 and showing additional parts and the position of the piston in the cylinder after a carrier has been discharged from the opposite end of the line. Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view showing the air-passage between which the compressed air enters tomove the parts from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9 during the travel of the carrier.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

When it is desired to despatch a carrier, it is inserted into the terminal at the inlet A, Fig. 1, and passes down through the opening C of the valve-box C into the despatchtube B. The valve C is then closed by rollers D, are pivotally connected at D to the oppositely-arranged rocking arms D which extend upwardly and are secured fast on the shaft D passing through the valve-box C.

This valve-box C is provided with a closed pocket D"',through which the shaft D passes, and on said shaft and projecting into the closed pocket D is a lever F, and bearing against the lower end of this lever is another forked lever G, the upper end of which is mounted loosely on the shaft G, jour'naled in upright supports G secured to the plate G and said lever passes down through a suit- 5 able opening in said plate. The shaft G, extending outwardly on one side, is provided with a handle G for a purpose hereinafter described. On this shaft G is securely fastened a lever G provided at its outer end with a roll G mounted on the pivot G The lever G is held in contact with the lever G by the spring G around the shaft G and having one end secured to said shaft and the other end bearing against the lever G and holding the upper end of the lever G in com tact with the lever G at all times, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 7. In order to close the valve 0 the handle G is moved forward toward the left, moving with it the shaft G, to which the lever G is secured, and through the medium of the spring G the lever Gand lever F and the valve 0 are moved into the position shown in full lines, Fig. 2, thereby closing the opening into the tube B. Located within the pocket J, and secured to the plate G3 is aplate K, provided with ahub K, within which is mounted the plunger K provided at its upper end with a flange K against which the roll G on the lever G bears. Within the pocket J is mounted the pistonplunger L, heldin its raised position, Fig. 1, by the spring L andthis plunger L is provided with a hollow stem L to which the valve L is secured by suitable nuts L and the lower one of which is providedwit'h suitable openings L communicating with the pocket M of the valve-box O. The spring L tends to keep the plunger K in its upper position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) The flange L on the stem L limits the downward movement of the plunger K in the pocket J-. The plunger K is provided with a series or radial openings K and with a groove K on the outer periphery of said plunger.

M is a plate covering the bottom of the valve-box O, to which the air-pressure-supply pipe M is connected, communicating with the pocket M. To this platevis also secured the despatch-tube B for the transmission of the carriers. The air-supply pipe M extends between the terminals and at a convenient pointis connected to a suitablev compressedair tank, as shown in the application hereinbef'ore referred to. Extending upwardly from the plate G and secured thereto is a curved chute N, which curves as shownin said applicatioinand from which the carriers are discharged, into a suitable receptacle.

Communicating with the Valve-box C is the air-passage H, which at its opposite end is in communication with the piston-chamber H, and within said piston-chamber is located the piston H having a suitable piston-rod H which at its outer end without the cylinder is provided with a flanged collar H, which isadapted as the piston moves toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6 to engage with the lateral lug H on the valve-stem H and to move said stem and ing to the position shown in Fig. 6, the movement of said stem H being limited bythe vertical pin H contacting with the vertical support 11 securedv to the plate G This movement of the valve-stem takes place after the carrier has been discharged,and in this movement the valve-stem moves the valve H from the posit-ion shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Figs. 6 and 9, so that compressed air from the pocket M passes u'pwardly through the air-passage J, controlled shown in Fig. 1. .I of the plate I is a spring-catch 0, adapted bythescrew J 2 and nut J intothe air-passage J and into the piston-chamber H and moves said piston back toits normal position, (shown in Fig. 5,) and as the piston-rod reaches its inner limit of movement the flanged collar H strikes the limited extension J 3 and moves the valve back to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 5,) thus cutting off the air-pressure through the passage J, so that the apparatus .in the terminal is in its normal position, as Pivoted in the opposite lugs toengage the flange K of the plunger K and when the valve-stem H is moved to the position shown in Fig. 6 the limited extension 0 on the valve-stem H strikes the upright pin 0 which is a part of the shaft 0 on which is fixed fast said spring-catch 0, and the engagement of said limited extension 0 moves said pin 0 toward the left and releases the spring catch from the flange K thereby allowing the plunger-K to rise, and the springL being under compression throws the plunger K upwardly. When the plunger K has been depressed by moving the lever G, as previously described, the openings K move downwardly, Fig. 2, and open into the space above the piston-plunger L, and the air-pressure passing up from the pipe M through the openings L and through the hollow stem L passes out through said openings K into the space above the piston- 'plunger L, and by reason of said pistonposition shown in Fig. 2, and the pressure passes through the opening L into the valve-box G and from there into the tube B,

through which the carrier is driven, and at the same time acts on the bottom of the valve C and raises it and holds it against its seat 'A, as shown in Fig. 2.

At the same time the air passes upwardly around the closed pocket D and into the passage Hand passes into the piston-chamber H and forces the piston H toward the left and operates the connecting -mechanism, as hereinbefore described, to allowthe closing of the valve L as above described, after the carrier has reached the opposite end of the line, and when the springcatch 0 is released in the manner above doscribed the plunger K rises from the position plunger passes through the groove K up and out above the hub K, and the spring L act ing on the plunger L, raises said piston plunger to the position shown in Fig. l, and

the pressure acting on the valve L closes said valve, and the pressure being relieved from below the valve 0 said valve drops onto its carriage D, and the spring R on the shaft D moves said valve toits open position, (shown in Fig. 1,) when the apparatus is in condition to'despatch another carrier. In one end of the cylinder H is an opening P,

the area of which may be increased or diminished by adjusting the screw P, thus controlling the time in which the air is allowed to escape from the cylinder H as the piston H moves from the right to the left by the air-pressure from the air-passage H.

When the compressed air from the tube M passes up during the opening of the valve I. into the pipe H, it drives the piston H toward the left from the position shown in Fig. 8, and the rapidity of the movement of the piston depends upon the area of the small opening P at the left-hand end of the cylinder, so that in a long line the screw P would be adjusted so as to make the opening P small in order to retard the egress of the air, while in a short line the screw P would be adjusted to increase the area of the opening P to allow the air to pass out rapidly, so that bythis arrangement the flow of air from the cylinder H can be controlled to allow the carriers to travel any predetermined distance. After a carrier has passed out at the opposite end of the line the piston H reaches the position shown in Fig. 6 and operates the mechanism hereinbefore described to close the valve L and shut olf the air'pressure, thus providing for the use of the air-pressure only during the transmission of carriers.

- The operation is as follows: A carrier is dropped into the inlet A at the right-hand end of Fig. 1 and passes down through the opening 0' in the valve-box G into the despatch-tube B, and the handle G is then moved to the left and moves the valve 0 across the mouth of the tube B, as previously described. This movement of closing the valve also pushes down the lever G fast on the shaft G, and the leverG pushes down the plunger K against the tension of the spring L After the valve 0 has moved to its closed position (shown in Fig. 2) the spring G yields and allows the plunger K to be still farther depressed, and i when the plunger K reaches its lowest position the spring-catch O engages with the top of the flange K on the plunger K and holds said plunger in its lowest position. When said plunger K is in its lowest position, as

1 shown in Fig. 2, (whichis just previous toits rising, owing to the piston H moving over and about to release said plunger,) the ports It allow the compressed air passing up through the hollow stem L to pass above the l lun er L and the air-pressure above said i the carrier which has just been inserted to the removal of the hand from the handle Gr the plunger K is held down by the springcatch 0 and remains in this position, allowing the air to drive the carrier through the despatch-tube until said catch 0 is removed from the flange K on the plunger K The carrier traveling along the tube 13 from the right terminal, as shown in the drawings, toward the left passes out of the left terminal, which is identical with the right-hand terminal, into a suitable receptacle. At this time the piston H has tripped off the spring-catch 0, (shown in Fig. 2,) and this releasing of the plunger K will move the ports K out of alinement with the space above the piston-plunger L in the upper part of the pocket J, due to the spring L and will also bring the upper end of the vertical groove K above the hubK, and the air in said space K will escape through said groove into the casing G and from thence to the atmosphere, and the parts will assume the posit-ion shown in Fig. 1, as heretofore described. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 the air-pressure from the pocket M is cut off from the upper part of the pocket J, and a vent is formed by means of the groove K to allow the escape of air from above the plunger L through said groove, when the spring L will force the plunger L upwardly, carrying with it the valve L against its seat, as shown in Fig. 1, closing the opening L from the pocket M and preventing a further flow of air into the despatch-tube B. When the air has thus ceased to flow, the pressure is removed from the valve 0 which drops onto its carriage D, and the spring R will move said valve to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, and at this time the apparatus is in condition to despatch another carrier.

From the above it is clear that the" compressed air is used only during the transit of the carrier from end to end of the tube, as the pressure is out off immediately upon the arrival of the carrier at the terminal. As shown and described, asingle tube is used for the transmission of the carriers in both directions, as the terminals and operating parts at both ends may be identical.

The operation as above described as taking place in the terminal at the right-hand end of Figs. 1 and 2 for the discharge of a carrier at the left-hand end of the line will likewise occur in the terminal at the left-hand end of the line upon the discharge of a carrier coming from the left hand and discharging at the right hand.

The specific construction of the valve 0 for closing the despatch-tube B is no part of my present invention, as it forms the subjectmatter" of another application, filed July 10, 1901, Serial No. 67,753. it

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as the same may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth a construction embodying the same, whatI claim asjnew, and desire to secure: by Letters Patent of the United piston movable in said cylinder and provided with a piston-rod extending beyond the cylinder, mechanism for releasing said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close and operated by the movement of said piston driven by the compressed air admitted to said cylinder, an opening insaid cylinder through which air from the cylinder is forced by the movement of the piston as it moves in one direction to release the air-supply-controlling .valve, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of the piston to admit' compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supply-controlling valve.

2. In an apparatus or the character described, a despatch tube, a source of com.- pressed air, a valve for closing the despatchtube after the insertion of the carrier, mechanism for closing said valve, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air to the despatch-tube, means for holding said valve normally closed, mechanism for opening said air-supply-controlling valve, means for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, a cylinder for receiving compressed air when the air-supply-controlling valve is open, a piston movable in said cylinder and provided with a piston-rod extending beyond the cylinder, mechanism for releasing said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close and operated by the movement of said piston driven by the compressed air admitted to said cylinder, an opening in said cylinder through which air from the cylinder isforced by the movement of the piston as it moves inone direction torelease the air-supply-controlling valve, means for adjusting said opening, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of the piston to admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supply-controlling valve.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a de'spa'tch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said air-supply-controlling valve upon the closing of the despatch-tube valve, means for holding said airsupply-controlling valve open, a cylinder, a piston in said; cylinder operated by compressed air in both directions, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston in one direction for releasing said air-supplycontrolling valve to allow it to close, means for regulating the movement of said piston to operate said releasing mechanism, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the 'movement of said piston in one direction to admit compressed air into the cylinder to pressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the: insertionot' the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air for opening said air-supplycontrolling valve upon the closing of the despatch-tube valve, means for holding said ,air-supply-controlling valve open, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder operated by compressed air in both directions, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston in one direction for releasing said airsupply controlling valve to allow it to close, means for regulating the movement of said piston to operate said releasing mechanism, and an air-inlet valve tosaid cylinder opened by the movement of said piston in one direction to admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supply-controlling valve and adapted tobe closed upon the return of the piston toits normal position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch -tube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said air-supply-controlling valve, a catch for holding said airsupply-controlling valve open, a piston operated by compressed air in both directions, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston in'one direction: for moving said catch to. release said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close, a cylinder in which said piston is located and provided with an air-vent for controlling the escape of air in front of the piston. during its movement in one direction to release said air-supply-controlling valve, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of said piston in one direction to admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supplycontrolling valve.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despa-tch-tube after theinsertion of the carrier, a valve'controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by com pressed air for opening said air-supply-controlling valve, a catch for holding said airsupply-controlling valve open, a piston operated by compressed air in both directions, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston in one direction for moving said catch the piston during its movement in one direction to release said air-supply-controlling valve, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of said piston in one direction to admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supplycontrolling valve and adapted to be closed upon the return of the piston to its normal position.

'7. In an apparatus of the characterde scribed, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, a valve controlling the supply of co mpressed air, mechanism operated by com- Ipressed air for opening said air-supply-controlling valve, a catch for holding said airsupply-controlling valve open, a piston operated by compressed air in both directions, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston in one direction for moving said catch to release said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close, a cylinder in which said piston is located and provided with an air-vent for controlling the escape of air in front of the piston during its movement in one direction to release said air-supply-con'trolling valve, means for varying the area of said vent thereby regulating the movement of said piston, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of said piston in one direction to'admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closingof the air-supplycontrolling valve.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, avalve controlling the supply of compressed air, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said air-supply-controlling valve, a catch for holding said airsupply-controlling valve open, a piston operated by compressed air in both directions, mechanism operated by the movement of said piston in one direction for moving said catch to release said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close, a cylinder in which said piston is located and provided with an air-vent for controlling the escape of air in front of the piston during its movement in one direction to release said air-supply-controlling valve, means for varying the area of said vent thereby regulating the movement of said piston, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of said piston in one direction to admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supplycontrolling valve and adapted to be closed upon the return of the piston to its normal position. i

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of compressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, mechanism for closing said valve, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air to the despatch-tube, means for holding said valve normally closed, mechanism. operated by compressed air for opening said airsupply-controlling valve, means for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, mechanismoperatedin one direction by compressed 1 air for releasing said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close and operated in the opposite direction by compressed air for re turning it to its normal position upon the closing of the air-supply-controlling valve, means for regulating the movement of said mechanism to release said air-supply-controlling valve, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of said piston in one direction to admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-sup ply-controlling valve.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a despatch-tube, a source of com pressed air, a valve normally open for closing the despatch-tube after the insertion of the carrier, mechanism for closing said valve, a valve controlling the supply of compressed air to the despatch-tube, means for holding said valve normally closed, mechanism operated by compressed air for opening said air supply-controlling valve, means for holding said air-supply-controlling valve open, mech-' anism operated in one direction by'compressed air for releasing said air-supply-controlling valve to allow it to close and operated in the opposite direct-ion by compressed air for returning it to its normal position upon the closing of the air-supply-controlling valve, means for regulating the movement of said mechanism to release said air-supply-controlling valve, and an air-inlet valve to said cylinder opened by the movement of said piston in one direction to admit compressed air into the cylinder to move the piston in the opposite direction upon the closing of the air-supply-controlling valve and adapted to be closed upon the return of the piston to its normal position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 25th day of April, A. D. 1901.

MARTIN BARRI. i Witnesses:

E. L. HARLOW, A. L. Mnssnn.

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